Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, announced that the government will distribute 25 million free LPG connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) during Navratri. This will take the total number of LPG connections under the scheme to 106 million.

Each new connection will receive support worth Rs 2,050, covering LPG cylinders, stoves, regulators, and installation. Puri described the initiative as a celebration of women’s power, linking it to the cultural significance of Navratri and the embodiment of ‘Shakti’ in Indian tradition.

He highlighted that the scheme currently offers a Rs 300 subsidy for over 103 million cylinders, enabling refills at Rs 553, which is lower than many LPG-producing nations. Launched in May 2016, PMUY provides deposit-free LPG connections to women from underprivileged households, including the first refill and stove free under Ujjwala 2.0.